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Karen Pirie's Lauren Lyle reveals how her character has changed between seasons – and how it mirrors real life
Lyle spoke with Radio Times alongside the writer of the ITV crime drama, Emer Kenny.
ITV/World Productions
- James Hibbs
Published: Thursday, 17 July 2025 at 7:00 am
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After three years off our screens, Karen Pirie is back, with Emer Kenny returning to adapt the second of Val McDermid's novels, A Darker Domain.
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Lauren Lyle is, of course, back as Karen, and given that the season is picking up some time after the first, there have been some changes in her life - as Lyle herself explained when speaking exclusively with Radio Times.
She said of Karen in season 2: "With a slight sense of not wanting it, she has become the boss and doesn't quite know what to do with that. She has the authority now, but she doesn't know what to do with it.
"As she was in season 1, she naturally goes against the rules, and she naturally is very good at her job, but she doesn't necessarily know why or how she's doing it.
"So we find her as the head of everyone, and it's still quite funny that she's very small and sarcastic and unsure, but somehow has to pull it all together.
"We literally had rooms of 30 extras, and I was having to command a room and tell everyone what to do. And it was really fun, but actually was quite intimidating.
"So there is this weird sense - in the same way as season 1, when I hadn’t led something before - that I'm living this parallel life with Karen, where it's like you've levelled up and now you've levelled up again, and now you both have to ride this wave together."
Emer Kenny as River Wilde, Lauren Lyle as Karen Pirie and Chris Jenks as DC Jason Murray in Karen Pirie.
In season 2, Karen has been promoted to detective inspector, and is assigned the infamous unsolved case of Catriona and Adam Grant, who were brutally kidnapped at gunpoint in 1984.
Read more:
- Sherlock creator reveals "best episode" in show's history – and why 15 years is not a proper anniversary
- Karen Pirie bosses on big season 2 twists: "Assume nothing"
The case is reopened when a man’s body is discovered with indisputable links to the original kidnap, and Karen starts assembling her team - including her secret romantic partner DS Phil Parhatka, played by Zach Wyatt.
Speaking to Radio Times alongside Lyle, writer and River Wilde star Kenny said: "I think it was quite a personal story for me and Lauren. Again, you really, really want to be a figure of authority and express yourself and be number one on the call sheet, all of that.
"And then when you get there, you realise, 'Oh my god, now I can't break the rules. I can't be naughty.' It's kind of a growing up story. I think Karen, she grows up in this story, she does go around the rules and it comes back to bite her."
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Lyle then added: "I do like that there's a lot weaved through her personal life as well, with the things with Phil and the real struggles that I think you go through quite often as a woman, if you do become more powerful - how difficult that can be for your personal life to continue and to thrive.
"It's quite a relevant, current story that exists, that we talk about at the moment, especially the age that I'm at as well. I'm feeling that in my own life."
Karen Pirie season 2 will air from Sunday 20th July 2025 on ITV1 and ITVX.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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